Collins to vote 'no' on Syria

Saying his constituents are “overwhelmingly opposed” to a U.S. strike against Syria, U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence, Tuesday announced he plans to vote against authorizing U.S. military action.

“While I understand that this situation is very fluid, and the administration has agreed to diplomatic efforts through the United Nations, I am unconvinced that a U.S. military strike in Syria would be in the best interest of America and its allies in the region,” Collins stated Tuesday. “The emergence of a non-military solution to this crisis — as we have seen in just the last 24 hours — demonstrates how ill-conceived and poorly thought out the President’s plan has been since its inception.”

Collins was referring to a surprise Russian proposal that would put Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime’s chemical stockpile under international control before its eventual dismantling. Both the U.S. and Syria accepted the proposal, though world powers have bogged down Tuesday over the question of how it would be enforced.

“Proposing military action is one of the most serious decisions a President can make, and therefore requires a clear set of objectives and a clear exit strategy,” Collins stated Tuesday evening. “This administration has satisfied neither, leaving us with serious questions about whether a U.S military strike in Syria will be indirectly assisting anti-American jihadist forces inside of the country and will not guarantee that Assad is unable to launch future chemical weapons attacks.”

Earlier, Collins said that 95 percent of his 27th Congressional District constituents who provided input on the Syria crisis don’t want the United States to get involved. His district includes parts of Ontario and Monroe counties, including the city and town of Canandaigua and the towns of West Bloomfield, East Bloomfield, Victor, Farmington, Richmond, Bristol, Canadice, South Bristol and part of Naples.

Collins — in a conference call Tuesday with reporters previewing the evening presidential address — said his office has received some 4,000 calls from people in the district, with most of them saying they don't support military action. At that point, he had said he remained undecided on whether the United States should take military action against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons — an action Collins said he believes to have indeed happened.

In his later statement, he said, “My constituents are overwhelmingly opposed to any U.S. military involvement in Syria and after thoroughly deliberating on the matter; I believe they are justified in their opposition.”

Messenger Post reporter Julie Sherwood and The Associated Press contributed to this report.